Robert w



(No Model.)

R. W. AITKEN.

GONNEGTING ROD.

No. 425,119. Patented Apr. 8, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT uniona ROBERT XV. AITKEN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT LAVS, OF SAME PLACE.

CONNECTlNG-ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,119, dated April 8, 1890.

Application iled July 23, 1889. Serial No. 318,357. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, ROBERT XV. AITKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Connecting-Rods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of connecting-rods in which the body of the rod is formed of a strap,bar, or rod bent or doubled back upon itself; and the object of .my invention is to produce a light and durable connecting-rod of this kind, which dispenses with the usual cross-bolts, gibs, and keys for adjusting the bearings, and which is simple in construction and' can be manufactured at comparatively small expense.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved connecting-rod. Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in line c; (1,', Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section in line y y, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The frame or body of the connecting-rod is constructed of a single piece of wrought iron or steel, preferably rolled bariron, which is bent to form two parallel bars or rods a a and a connecting bend or bow a. The free ends of the rods a are preferably reduced in diameter and screw-threaded and form shanks h, to which are secured the bearings or brasses for the crank-pin.

C represents a cross-bar or plate connecting the ends of the rods a, and provided with openings, through which the shanks o are inserted, and whereby the rods are held parallel with each other and prevented from spreading. The cross-bar C bears against shoulders c, formed at the junction of the shanks b wit-h rods a. The shoulders are seated in sockets formed in the crossbar C.

D represents a similar cross bar or plate connecting the outer ends of t-he shanks l), and provided with openings arranged in line with the openings in the crossbar G to receive the ends of the shanks.

E E represents the halfbearin9s or brasses applied to the shanks of the rods c. a between the cross bars or plates C and D, and which embrace the crank-pin or other part to which the rod is connected. E E are provided with openings, through which the Shanks l) b pass. The bearings E E rest, respectively, with their outer flat faces against the flat faces of the cross-plates C and D. The outer bearing E is moved toward the innerbearingE by sorew-nutsff, arranged on the outer threaded ends of the shanks b and bearing against the outer face of the cross-bar D, thereby tightening the bearings upon the journal or crank-pin, which they embrace.

F F represent the haltbearings arranged at the opposite end of the connecting-rod, between the rods a and bow a. The outer bearing F has its outer convex surface provided with a seinicircular groove or recess g, in which the inner surface of the bow a is seated. The inner bearing F is provided on its upper and lower edges with semicircular recesses or grooves g to receive the inner sides of the rods da. The recesses or grooves g g retain the bearings between the rods a d and prevent their lateral displacement.

H represents a cross-bar arranged between the rods a d, near the inner bearing F and provided with a longitudinal adjustingscrew 7L, which bears against the inner bearing F, and whereby the latter is tightened against or moved toward the outer bearing E. The adjusting-screw h is arranged in a socket 7L',

formed in the cross-bar H and having a threaded inner portion h2, which engages with the threaded portion of the adjusting-screw.

i represents a set-screw arranged transversely in the outer portion h3 of the socket and engaging against the smooth outer surface of the adjustingscrew, whereby the latter is held against turning in the socket.

The cross-bar H is secured to the rods a a by split sockets j, which embrace the rods a, and which are provided with bolts j', connecting the two jaws of each socket. The bolts j pass through openings formed in the jaws of the split sockets j, and are seated in a semicircular groove lc, formed in the outer side of each rod a. Upon tightening the bolts j the crossbar H is firmly clamped upon the rods The bearingsv IOO (l, and is held 'from longitlulinal movement on the rods bythe bolts j projecting into the grooves 7:.. The cross-baril also prevents any spreading of the rods a, and assists in hold* ing` the latter rigidly in place. Each of the bearings at the opposite ends of the connecting-rod can be readily adjusted for wear independently ot the other bearing.

My improved connecting-rod can be produced at comparatively small expense, as the parts require no special fitting, and the usual end straps and cross-bolts and gibs and keys which require to be iitted with great care are dispensed with. I also avoid the shearing strains to which these pa-rts are subjected, as the tensile and compressing strains are brought to bear directly upon the rods a a..

I claim as my invention-- I. A eonnecting-rod composed 0E a single bar or rod bent to form two parallel rods and a connecting-bow and provided with separate and independently-adjustable end bearings, substantially as set forth.

2. In a connecting-rod, the combination, with the rods a o, and connecting-bow a', bent of a single bar or red, the rods beingprovided with longitudinal scrcw-shanks at their ends, of bearings adj ustably mounted on said screw- Shanks, hearings seated in the connectingbow and the adjacent portions of the rods, and a longitudinal adjustingserew, whereby said last-named bearings are adjusted, substantially as set forth.

3. In a connecting-rod, the combination, with the reds a d and eonnecting-bow a', bent from a single bar or rod, of the Shanks Z), formed on the ends of said rods and provided with screw-th reads, cross-bars C D, applied to said Shanks, bearings E E', applied to said Shanks between the cross-bars C D, and screwnuts j' f, applied to said shanks and bearing I against one ol' said cross-bars, substantially as set l'orth. v

4A. In a connecting-rod, the combination, with the rods du. and connecting-bow a. bent from a single bar or red, of bearings F F', ar ranged between said rods and seated against said bow, a cross-bar II, secured to said rods on the inner sides of said bearings, and an adjusting-screw arranged in said cross-bar and engaging against said bearings, substantially as set forth.

5. In a eonneetingrod, the combination, with the rods d (L and connecting-bow CL', formed from a single bar or rod, ot' the bearings F F, arranged between the rods a. a and seated against said bow, a eross-bar 1I, pr0- vided with split soeketsj, embracing the rods (L u, elamping-boltsj", eonneetingthe jaws of the split sockets and seated in recesses formed in the rods a a., and an adj listing-screw h, engaging against the bearings F F', substantially as set forth.

(5. The combination, in a connecting-rod, pvith the rods a a, connecting-bow a', formed iintegral with the reds, and shanks i) i), provided writ-h screw-threads, oi the bearings F F', arranged between said rods and seated against `the bow a, a cross-bar secured te said rods and provided with a screw-threaded socket 71., an adjusting-serew arranged in said socket land engaging against said bearings, cross- `bars C I), secured to the shanks b l), bearings `arranged between said cross-bars, and screwnuts f, secured to the threaded ends of said Shanks, snliistantially as set forth. Witness my hand this 27th day of June, 1889. I

ROBERT XV. AI'IKEN; \Vitnesses:

F. C. GEYER, ALICE G. CONNELLY. 

